broken the principle of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broken the principle of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing violations or infringements of established rules or guidelines. Example: "The recent actions of the committee have broken the principle of fairness that we all agreed upon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Was she trying to say, he asked Dr. Correoso, that if morphine killed a patient, "you wouldn't mind?" "Then you've already broken the principle of double effect," Dr. Correoso replied.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He added: "In a small number of cases the association believes the actions may have broken the principles of governance, contravened good employment practices and risk eroding the basic entitlement of children to a rounded education".

BBC

"I do not see myself why an emergency brake on these lines means breaking the principle of freedom of movement.

The Guardian

If you are part of a network and being unfairly excluded because other companies want more control, that's wrong and breaks the principle of the internet which is about opportunity, new ideas and a global concept.

Vice

The above video, created by YouTube user mcwolles, depicts a real-life version of the Dutch artist's 1961 lithograph "Waterfall". Just as in Escher's version, it appears that the water breaks the principle of conservation of energy as it recirculates with water flowing upward and defying gravity.

HuffPost

It follows that Smoluchowski's trapdoor could not operate as it would break the Principle of Microscopic Reversibility.

Chemical Reviews

By setting up a special cancer drugs fund he broke the principles of Nice, providing high-cost drugs regardless of their QALY benefits.

The Guardian - Opinion

Every shadow science minister accuses every science minister of breaking the principle – irrespective of which parties are in and out of office at any time.

The Guardian

Mr Tsipras may calculate that European creditors will give way in order to avoid a Grexit, which would hurt the euro zone as a whole by breaking the principle that membership of the single currency is irrevocable.

The Economist

If monetary policy was used to secure the sovereign's solvency -- clearly breaking of the principle of self-responsibility -- the risk of government's irresponsible behavior would be further exacerbated.

Huffington Post

Some ASEAN countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia have started breaking from the principle of non-interference to comment on the Rohingya issue.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "broken the principle of", ensure that the principle being referenced is clearly defined and understood within the context. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the argument that a violation has occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "broken the principle of" without specifying which principle is being violated. For example, instead of saying "The policy has broken the principle of fairness", specify "The policy has broken the principle of equal opportunity for all employees".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broken the principle of" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that a specific principle has been violated. Ludwig shows it's used to express that a rule, standard, or tenet has been contravened.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "broken the principle of" is used to indicate that a fundamental rule or standard has been violated. While grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's crucial to specify which principle is being referenced to avoid vagueness. Common alternatives include "violated the tenet of" or "contravened the guideline of". This phrase typically appears in news, scientific, and formal contexts, reflecting a need for clear and objective communication. While not extremely common, its usage is consistent and effective when a principle has clearly been breached.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

violated the tenet of

Replaces "principle" with "tenet" which suggests a more fundamental or core belief.

contravened the guideline of

Substitutes "broken" with "contravened" emphasizing a direct contradiction, and replaces "principle" with "guideline" suggesting a less strict rule.

infringed upon the rule of

Replaces "broken" with "infringed upon" highlighting a slight or indirect violation and replaces "principle" with "rule" suggesting an explicit regulation.

transgressed the standard of

Substitutes "broken" with "transgressed", indicating a more serious violation, and replaces "principle" with "standard" suggesting a benchmark.

defied the norm of

Replaces "broken" with "defied", suggesting open resistance or disregard, and replaces "principle" with "norm" suggesting a societal expectation.

disregarded the doctrine of

Substitutes "broken" with "disregarded", emphasizing a deliberate overlooking, and replaces "principle" with "doctrine" suggesting a formal or established belief.

compromised the integrity of

Shifts the focus to the impact of the action on the principle itself rather than directly breaking it.

went against the spirit of

Focuses on violating the underlying intention or purpose of the principle rather than the principle itself.

acted contrary to the ideal of

Replaces "principle" with "ideal" suggesting a perfect standard or aspiration.

departed from the precept of

Substitutes "broken" with "departed from", softening the violation, and replaces "principle" with "precept" suggesting a rule or guideline.

FAQs

How can I use "broken the principle of" in a sentence?

You can use "broken the principle of" to indicate that a rule, standard, or tenet has been violated. For example: "The company's actions have "broken the principle of" transparency".

What are some alternatives to saying "broken the principle of"?

Alternatives include "violated the tenet of", "contravened the guideline of", or "infringed upon the rule of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "violated the principle of" or "broken the principle of"?

Both "violated the principle of" and ""broken the principle of"" are acceptable, but "violated" might sound more formal. The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.

What does it mean to say something "breaks the principle of" something else?

To say something "breaks the principle of" something else means it violates or acts against a fundamental rule, belief, or standard. It implies a deviation from established norms.